Single Assessment Process
Assessment
Assessments are carried out by staff from the Social Work, Care Management, Occupational Therapy, and other specialist teams. In your assessment, we will ask you:
- what you think your needs are?
- what problems you are facing?
- what help you have now?
- what help you think you may need?
We will use this information to decide which services you need. We want to help as many people as possible, but we have to make sure that our services go to those who need them most. Whether you qualify for a particular service will depend on your level of need. You can view information on our Eligibility Criteria.
If you are an adult resident of Poole and think you could benefit from services to assist you to live independently in safety and comfort, you can request a Community Care Assessment, or ask someone else to do so on your behalf (such as a friend, relative, GP or District Nurse).
You can contact the Social Services Helpdesk who will direct your request to the appropriate team. Helpdesk staff may offer you information about local organisations and resources you can contact yourself to arrange straightforward services, if you prefer to do so as an alternative to having a Community Care Assessment. If your needs are complex or you have concerns about arranging services for yourself, you may wish to apply for an Assessment of Care Needs.
Standards
Community Care services are provided under a nationally-agreed framework known as Fair Access To Care Services (FACS) which sets out the way in which we must assess your physical, mental and emotional needs and the risks to your independence which any problems may create.
During your assessment:
- we will consider your views and wishes
- you can have a friend, relative or someone else present to help you or speak for you, if you want
- we will arrange for an interpreter if you do not speak English or if you use sign language
- we will consider the views of anyone caring for you and take their needs into account
- the people involved in your assessment will work together effectively
- we will give you information about the services that are available and any charges involved
After your assessment, we will tell you which services you are eligible to receive and discuss with you how they will be arranged. You will be given a copy of your Care Plan. We will also discuss Direct Payments with you so that you can purchase care services independently if you feel this would be more suitable for you. There are charges for some services and you may need a financial assessment to determine your ability to pay. This will be discussed with you.
Single Assessment Process
Breaking down the barriers between Health and Social Care
We are trying to make services more accessible and responsive to the needs and aspirations of individuals. We are working together with Health to remove the barriers that prevent this happening.
Aims of the Single Assessment Process:
- To bring together health and social services so that people can have a single point of access to the care system and avoid having to contact a wide range of professionals themselves.
- To avoid duplication and time wasted telling the same story to several different people.
- The introduction of personally-held records (yellow folders).
- All language used is clear and concise, avoiding the use of specialist terminology, jargon and abbreviations.
- The language used should be 'person-centred'.
- The initial Contact and Overview Assessment will provide a single, holistic, foundation on which specialist assessments may then be built.
Sharing of information
This is one of the key principles that underpins the assessment process. Please click on the following link to find out more about protecting your personal information.
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